Erdogan hails 'courageous' ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Nov 2024 17:08

The Turkish President called on ICC member states to enforce the warrants and urged Western nations to uphold their commitments to international law and human rights.

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Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a plenary session at the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced strong support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants, announced on Thursday, accuse the leaders of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the ongoing Gaza genocide.

Speaking in Istanbul on Saturday, Erdogan praised the ICC's move as a significant step for global justice. "We support the arrest warrant. We consider it important that this courageous decision be carried out by all country members of the accord to renew the trust of humanity in the international system," he stated.

Calls for Global Action

Erdogan called on ICC member states to enforce the warrants and urged Western nations to uphold their commitments to international law and human rights. "It is imperative that Western countries—who for years have given the world lessons on law, justice, and human rights—keep their promises at this stage," he added.

Although Turkiye is not a signatory to the ICC, Erdogan has been an outspoken critic of "Israel", particularly since its genocidal campaign on Gaza escalated in October 2023. The war has drawn widespread condemnation and international scrutiny over the excessive use of force and civilian casualties.

Erdogan has pledged to hold Netanyahu accountable for atrocities committed in Palestinian territories, vowing to bring the Israeli leader to justice.

Turkiye Push for Accountability

This month, Turkiye, alongside 52 other countries, submitted a joint letter to the United Nations calling for an immediate halt to arms sales and deliveries to "Israel."

The letter's signatories include prominent nations such as Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Algeria, China, Iran, and Russia, as well as two influential international organizations: the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

"We must repeat at every opportunity that selling arms to Israel means participating in its genocide," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan declared during a press conference on November 3, announcing the submission of the letter.

Erdogan's administration has increasingly positioned itself as a staunch advocate for Palestinian rights, with the president consistently condemning "Israel's" actions as violations of international law and calling for accountability on the global stage.